Wow, recently the Student Association of Aqidah and Islamic Philosophy Studies (HM-PS AFI) at Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah State Islamic University (UIN SATU) successfully held a momentous discussion event! The event had the theme "Ecological Feminism: Women’s Role in Advocating for Equality and Environmental Sustainability". It was amazing! The discussion was held under a shady tree located behind the rectorate building. How cool!



The event was attended by several students who found the discussion to be cool and comfortable. Cut Hillary, one of the participants, expressed that the venue was different from typical discussion places such as warungs (food stalls), classrooms, and terraces. Wow, what an exciting new place for discussions!


The discussion started from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm and was conducted in a conducive manner. Two speakers were invited to be the main sources of information: Dian Meiningtias, a writer from Nggalek.co and Rizka Hidayatul Umami, a coordinator from GUSDURIAN Bonorowo. They discussed the ecological feminism movement and the role of women in advocating for equality and environmental sustainability.


In the discussion, Umami explained that the spirit of the ecological feminism movement originated from the concerns of feminist leaders about the deteriorating environment. Excessive exploitation of nature has forced humanity to embrace the richness of nature as a way to protect and care for the environment.


There's also the Chipko movement, which began in India in the 1970s. The movement was born as a form of protest against environmental exploitation in India. The term "Chipko" comes from the word "hug" or "attach," which describes the movement's efforts to protect nature from over-exploitation and destruction in the Uttar Pradesh region of India.


Dian also discussed women's roles in the family. Women are more involved in household chores such as cooking, washing, and taking care of babies. In relation to this, there is a bigger problem with finding a source of water. We all know that water is the most important commodity for life, and women are often the first victims of environmental damage.


In this discussion, it's not just men who are responsible for protecting the environment. According to Umami, all humans have the same responsibility to maintain environmental integrity.


The discussion was very exciting! This event was one of a series of activities organized by HM-PS AFI UIN SATU in response to International Women's Day and International Forest Day in March. Hopefully, this discussion can provide insights and awareness about gender equality and environmental awareness, to create a better environment for all.